Journal of Textile Research ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (04): 154-161.doi: 10.13475/j.fzxb.20240405401

• Dyeing and Finishing Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation and properties of superhydrophobic self-cleaning structural color fabrics

ZHAO Xianglu, FANG Yinchun(), LI Wei   

  1. School of Textile and Garment, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China
  • Received:2024-04-22 Revised:2024-12-15 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-06-11
  • Contact: FANG Yinchun E-mail:fangyinchun86@163.com

Abstract:

Objective Functional structural color can not only produce bright colors, but also provide special functions, which has been widely studied in recent years. In this study, polyacrylate binder and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) superhydrophobic finishing agent were used to treat SiO2 microspheres structural colored fabrics to prepare structural colored fabrics with high color fastness, superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning function. This study is expected to provide experimental basis for the development of structural colored fabrics with bright color, superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning functions.

Method SiO2 microspheres with different particle sizes were synthesized using Stober method with tetraethyl silicate and ammonia as raw materials by adjusting the amount of solvent anhydrous ethanol. A polyester fabric was pre-treated with polyacrylate (PA) before SiO2 microspheres were atomized and deposited on the pre-treated polyester fabric to prepare structural colored fabric. Following this, the fabric was treated with PDMS. The effects of SiO2 microspheres with different particle sizes on the color properties of structural colors were investigated. The hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties of structural colored fabrics were investigated. The colorfastness, air permeability and softness of the structural colored fabrics were also tested.

Results Five types of SiO2 microspheres with different particle sizes (218, 233, 240, 259 and 301 nm) were synthesized adopting the Stober method. SiO2 microspheres were assembled into short-range ordered and long-range disordered amorphous photonic crystals on the surface of polyester fabric by atomization deposition to obtain dark blue, blue, dark green, green and pink structural colored fabrics. After PDMS treatment, the position of the reflectance peaks of the five structural colors did not change, indicating that PDMS treatment did not affect the color tone of the structural colors. The reflectance peak of the structural colored fabrics after PDMS treatment was less than 0.97% compared with that before treatment, indicating that PDMS treatment would not have a significant effect on the color of the structural colored fabric. The static contact angle and rolling angle of the structural colored fabric after PDMS treatment reached 152.5°and 6.5°, respectively, indicating that the structural colored fabric after PDMS treatment has excellent superhydrophobic properties. The common liquid droplets in our daily life can maintain the spherical shape on the surface of the structural colored fabric after PDMS treatment, indicating excellent self-cleaning properties of the PDMS treated structural colored fabrics. The reflectance peak of the structural colored fabrics after washing was only 0.35% lower than that before washing. The results showed that the structural colored fabric had good washing fastness. The reflectance peak of the structural colored fabric decreased by only 0.42% after rubbing, and the color of the structural colored fabric did not change significantly, indicating that the structural colored fabric had good rubbing fastness. After PDMS treatment, the air permeability of the structural colored fabric decreased slightly, and the bending length and flexural rigidity increased slightly compared with the original fabric, suggesting that PDMS treatment had little effect on the softness and air permeability of the structural colored fabric.

Conclusion In this study, five types of SiO2 microspheres with different particle sizes were successfully prepared by adjusting the amount of anhydrous ethanol in the synthesis process. Accordingly, five different structural colors of dark blue, blue, dark green, green and pink were formed on the polyester fabric by atomization deposition method. With the increase of the particle size of SiO2 microspheres, the color of the structural colored fabric demonstrated a significant red shift. The structural colored fabrics treated with PDMS obtain excellent superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties. Due to the introduction of PA binder, the structural colored fabrics gwere endowed with good washing and rubbing colorfastness, whereas the wearability of the treated structural colored fabric was not significantly affected. This study provides an experimental basis for the development of structural colored fabrics with bright colors, superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning functions.

Key words: SiO2 microsphere, structural color, hydrophobic property, self-cleaning property, color fastness, polyester fabric, functional textile

CLC Number: 

  • TS193.6

Fig.1

SEM images of surface of SiO2 structural colored fabric"

Fig.2

SEM images of cross section of SiO2 structural colored fabric.(a) Before PDMS treatment; (b) After PDMS treatment"

Fig.3

Photos of structural colored fabric"

Fig.4

Reflectance spectra of structural colored fabric"

Fig.5

Photos of structural colored fabric after PDMS treatment"

Fig.6

Reflectance spectra of structural colored fabric after PDMS treatment"

Fig.7

Contact angle test photos of structural colored fabric before and after PDMS treatment.(a) Static contact angle before PDMS treatment; (b) Static contact angle after PDMS treatment; (c) Rolling angle after PDMS treatment"

Fig.8

Anti-fouling test photos of structural colored fabrics after PDMS treatment"

Fig.9

Self-cleaning test photos of structural colored fabrics treated with PDMS"

Fig.10

Photos of structural colored fabrics before (a) and after (b) washing"

Fig.11

Reflectance of structural colored fabrics before and after washing"

Fig.12

Color fastness to rubbing of structural colored fabric. (a) Reflectivity curves of structural colored fabric before and after friction; (b) Reflectivity curves of black polyester fabric before and after friction; (c) Fabric photos before and after friction"

Tab.1

Stiffness and air permeability of structural colored fabrics"

试样 硬挺度(经向) 硬挺度(纬向) 透气率/
(mm·s-1)
弯曲长
度/cm
抗弯刚度/
(mN·cm)
弯曲长
度/cm
抗弯刚度/
(mN·cm)
原织物 4.57 2.22 5.12 2.47 40.486±1.70
结构色织物 4.91 2.35 5.28 2.58 27.964±0.21
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